Indicating instrument
AssigneeNippondenso Co., Ltd.
InventorsTadaaki Ishimaru, Teruaki Araki, Tsutomu Yoshikawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An indicator for use in a vehicle instrument panel has a light conductive pointer illuminated by a light emitting diode or LED. In order to provide an increased illuminating surface of the pointer, a slit is formed on a cap to extend from the outer periphery of the cap to a portion above a center of rotation of the pointer driven by a driving shaft. A fixture is connected to the driving shaft and holds a light receiving portion of the pointer at the portion above the center of rotation and the LED in the optical alignment with the pointer at a portion off an axis of the center of rotation. A balancing weight is disposed at a portion opposite the LED with respect to the driving shaft in order to keep balance of the indicator.
Claims34
An indicating instrument including an internal driving unit with a driving shaft, an indicator, a light emitting element with leads and an electric source, wherein said indicator comprises:
- a light conductive pointer having a light receiving portion and an illuminating surface;
- a fixture, having a center of rotation connected to said driving shaft, for securing said light receiving portion of said pointer adjacent to said light emitting element;
- a cap-shaped cover disposed on said fixture for holding said pointer and said light emitting element in a space formed between said cover and said fixture in place;
- and
- a connecting member for connecting said light emitting element and said electric source;
- wherein said fixture comprises a balancing weight at a portion opposite said light emitting element with respect to said center of rotation.
An indicating instrument for use in a vehicle instrument panel including an internal driving unit for driving an indicator in response to a vehicle information, a light emitting element with leads and an electric source, wherein said indicator comprises:
- a light conductive pointer having an illuminating surface and a light receiving portion;
- a casing, having a center of rotation connected to said internal driving unit and a slit exposing said illuminating surface to the outside, for securing said light receiving portion of said pointer to a portion above said center of rotation and said light emitting element in an optical alignment to said light receiving portion;
- and a connecting member for connecting said light emitting element and said electric source,
- wherein said casing further comprises a balancing weight disposed at a portion opposite said light emitting element with respect to said center of rotation.
An indicating instrument including an internal driving unit with a driving shaft, an indicator, a light emitting element with leads and an electric source, wherein said indicator comprises:
- a light conductive pointer having a pointed end, a light receiving portion and an illuminating surface;
- a fixture, having a center of rotation connected to said driving shaft, for securing said light receiving portion of said pointer to a portion above said center of rotation and said light emitting element adjacent to said light receiving portion;
- a cap-shaped cover disposed on said fixture for holding said pointer and said light emitting element in a space formed between said cover and said fixture in place, said cover having a slit extending from an outer periphery to a portion above said center of rotation so that said illuminating surface of said pointer is visible to a driver;
- and
- a connecting member for connecting said light emitting element and said electric source, said connecting member having a flat portion which is longer than said light emitting element and disposed on said fixture in parallel with an axis of said light emitting element,
- wherein said fixture comprises a balancing weight at a portion opposite said light emitting element with respect to said center of rotation.
An indicating instrument including an internal driving unit with a driving shaft, an indicator, a light emitting element with leads and an electric source, wherein said indicator comprises:
- a light conductive pointer having a light receiving portion and an illuminating surface;
- a fixture, having a center of rotation connected to said driving shaft, for securing said light receiving portion of said pointer adjacent to said light emitting element;
- a cap-shaped cover disposed on said fixture for holding said pointer in a space formed between said cover and said fixture in place;
- and
- a connecting member for connecting said light emitting element and said electric source;
- wherein said fixture comprises a balancing weight at a portion opposite said light emitting element with respect to said center of rotation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.